One is the group of asian americans who might have felt the same way as she had, that is, who might have thought that their asian parents use broken or fractured english and felt ashamed of their englsih. Amy tans mother, daisy center at age 8, with daisys mother behind her in hangzhou, china, circa 1924. Mother tongue is about the authors struggles with her linguistic identity, her mothers fractured or broken variation of english and the relationship with her mother. Tan speculates that because asian americans score so much higher on math achievement tests than on english tests, they are encouraged to pursue math and science in college. The primary purpose of tans mother tongue is to orient the readers about the. Tone in mother tongue by amy tan in literature, tone is the feeling an author conveys to the audience.
When she was 15, she lost both her older brother peter and her father to brain tumors. My maternal grandmother is from france and i dont think she has had any similar experiences to those of tans mother. And finally, that amy is able to understand whatever her mother says, because she raised her. In amy tans short story mother tongue, explain the essence of. Essay about mother tongue by amy tan purpose 595 words.
Amy tan questions and answers discover the community of teachers, mentors and students just like you that can answer any question you might have on amy tan. Rhetorical analysis of mother tongue by amy tan in mother tongue, amy tan an american writer, shares her experience growing up with the family where no one speaks perfect english, and how it affected her education and her life. The short story mother tongue by amy tan addresses the reality that the inability to communicate effectively and see the different perspectives of those around us can hinder the flow of society and often block us from new ideas and potential. Explore how language and experience shapes our perspectives by reading amy tan s mother tongue and comparing it to your own experiences with communication.
Jun 21, 2017 mcgee of 303 and lectures on amy tans mother tongue, a. She is the second of three children born to chinese immigrants, daisy and john tan. Apr, 2017 in the essay mother tongue by amy tan shows how english does not have only one type, but a variety of ways to be used and understood. According to tan, why are so many asian americans encouraged to study math and science in college. There can be one tone throughout the entire piece or many different tones. Jul 18, 2016 mother tongue by amy tan key points and summary. What do language tests not have the ability to measure, according. Rhetorical analysis of mother tongue by amy tan 929 words. Her mother had a brain tumor and her father and brother both died of brain tumors. Amy tan is an asianamerican writer whose works focus a lot on relationships between mothers and daughters. Another purpose of writing such book is the fact that amy tan has spent much of her time in america, but she was born in china. The piece has a strong depiction of the asian american struggles through the adaptation of the english language. At the beginning of the piece we are told about the different types of english she would speak with her mother and with everyone else. I had no idea that only a few years ago, people of chinese origin were being discriminated against in the united states.
What are words tan uses to describe her mother s english. Amy tans a mothers tongue the purpose of amy tans essay, mother tongue, is to show how challenging it can be if an individual is raised by a parent who speaks limited english 36 as tans mother does, partially because it can result in people being judged poorly by others. What organizational pattern does tan use in mother tongue. Another purpose of writing such book is the fact that amy tan has spent much. She spends a great deal of her time thinking about the power of language the way it can evoke an emotion, a visual image, a complex idea, or a simple truth. In amy tans essay mother tongue, tan reveals how she was. Her mother, daisy du ching, was born into the florid decay of imperial china. In tans essay she quotes her mothers speech to demonstrate her mothers broken english, it was a very. She never came home and talked with the new english she learned. However, in her high school years, the eldest and her father both passed away from brain tumors. Sep 10, 2011 in my personal opinion, the audiences of tan s essay mother tongue are two groups of people.
Amy makes the reader realize how really not being american can affect how well you could handle everyday situations. In 1953, amy tan was born in oakland, california, the child of two chinese immigrants. Tan also mentions how her mother is the most expressive person she knows, which i find to be one of the main reasons why tan was so shaped by her mother s use of the english language. I believe the main idea of tans mother tongue is to stress that just because someone cannot speak the english language to perfection, that does not in any way make them less intelligent than someone who is born in this country and understands and speaks english fluently. Another purpose that i found to be throughout the piece was to reveal the main intent of language. There are three important messages that we all can understand and learn from in amy tans mother tongue. I believe that one purpose is to show the influence of language on life experience. Mar 04, 2015 amy tan, a chinese american writer, in her narrative, mother tongue, argues that language should not be perceived as a limitation to someones speech and instead should be seen as a tool that magnifies a persons intent and nature of hisher thoughts with every word that heshe is able to use. Jan 25, 20 thoughts on mother tongue by amy tan january 25, 20. Summarize mother tongue, identifying the essays main point, how tan arrives at that conclusion, and any specific points you may with to connect with later. Tans maternal grandmother was widowed after her scholarly husband died of influenza. Mother tongue i believe the main idea of tans mother tongue. It was her first time her mother heard her speak proper english.
In mother tongue, tan writes about the awareness and discrimination about unbroken english compared to standard english. Amy tan wants to present his position and belief in a rational and effective way. Amy tans short story, mother tongue is an admirable tale that discusses the implied meaning of languages and how language is not only a device of communication, but a social tool of measuring an individuals worth. Amy tans essay mother tongue discusses the way that language changes. Her purpose of mother tongue is to explain how the various languages that she has used with. Amy tans a mothers tongue the purpose of amy tans essay, mother tongue, is to show how challenging it can be if an individual is raised by a parent who.
Mother tongue commonly means the language first learned by a person, but for. Mother tongue by amy tan key points and summary emmanuel. I have chosen mother tongue by amy tan because she directly touches on the social and cultural differences that many people experience through language alone. A summary of amy tans mother tongue freebooksummary. The main idea of amy tans mother tongue is the limitations that imperfect english can impose in society and the richness that such english can bring to writing. In the amy tans mother tongue, she states that she is someone who has always loved language. Despite the multiple tragedys, tan continued to strive to craft her skill in writing. Amy tan s short story, mother tongue is an admirable tale that discusses the implied meaning of languages and how language is not only a device of communication, but a social tool of measuring an individuals worth. In literature, tone is the feeling an author conveys to the audience. As the second generation of chinese immigrants, tan faces. Mother tongue, by amy tan audio version of this story. Its a little confusing to someone besides the author. Amy tan gives the audience the positive view on the broken english speakers by using herself and her mother as an example. Oct 10, 2010 mother tongue by amy tan who is the authors audience.
Rhetorical analysis of mother tongue by amy tan 929. Firstly, and most importantly, tan wants to convey the message that words are more than just words and sometimes we must read between them to fully understand their meaning. Amy tans purpose of writing mother tongue is to remind the native english speakers to respect the broken english speakers and to find out the worthy thoughts concealed by the imperfect languages. I cannot give you much more than personal opinions on the english language and its variations in this country or others.
Amy tan used rhetorical devices such as anecdote and oxymoron to express her embarrassed and guilt, but loving attitude toward the broken english language of her mother. Mother tongue, written by amy tan provides a description of the forms of. In the text tan uses a variety of stylistic devices to express herself, tans use of parallel structures is used frequently throughout the piece, for example she starts the first paragraph with the phrase i am not a scholar of english and the second with i am a writer. Essay on amy tans a mothers tongue 973 words bartleby.
Amy tan, the author of mother tongue very well makes the point across about cultural racism without showing any anger or specifically pointing out racism. In her essay mother tongue, although she says that she writes with her intended audience being her mother, i believe her audience is other writers, possibly ones that also come from an immigrant background. Amy tan, the author of mother tongue, gives the audience a new outlook and better understanding of the struggles that every immigrant who lives in united states had gone through every day. Jun 01, 2011 amy tan is a first generation american born to chinese immigrants. Amy tan has used a combination of rhetorcial devices to express her emotions and feelings through words.
Amy tan s a mother s tongue the purpose of amy tan s essay, mother tongue, is to show how challenging it can be if an individual is raised by a parent who speaks limited english 36 as tan s mother does, partially because it can result in people being judged poorly by others. Primary purpose of tans mother tongue english literature essay. Mother tongue is a personal essay by the american novelist amy tan. The change into appreciation for her mother s language is shown through the fact that she finds her mother perfectly coherent when she speaks and even speaks as she does when they are together. Amy tan has ethos on the subject of english and how it. Amy tans messages in mother tongue essay example graduateway. The primary purpose of tans mother tongue is to orient the readers about the authors intepretation of differentiating standard english and broken english. The purpose of amy tan writing this essay was to explain to people her love for language in and of itself and to make people aware that just. For example, when tan made phone calls for her mother or. Mother tongue, written by amy tan provides a description of the forms of english languages adapted by different individuals during their migration to the united states of america and their adjustment to the american culture. Jul 18, 2016 she goes on to say that, even though her mother is bad at speaking in english, she is good at understanding everything. She videotaped her mother talking, then transcribed it. In the essay, mother tongue by amy tan, we are asked to consider how the language we grow up with affects us throughout our lives.
Mother tongue by amy tan from the list of essays under. Mother tongue by amy tan purpose essay example graduateway. Sep, 2011 mother tongue by amy tan was very surprising to me. Get an answer for what organizational pattern does tan use in mother tongue, and how does she control her tone. Mcgee of 303 and lectures on amy tan s mother tongue, a. It is an invitation to see english as a variety of ideas and expressions of oneself. Tan elaborates this idea by scrutinizing her mothers language, her own use of english and societys response to different peoples english usage. And that it is her mothers tongue so its like her native language. Thoughts on mother tongue by amy tan happinessequalsoutlook.